Paper dispensing apparatus



April 8, 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,435,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March a, 1967 Sheet flame 51/5573 847 00:-

a/ "zolv INVENT R3 MARQQN IBQAHAM IoHN J. ABRAHAM BY m asm iwmwh ma ATTORNEYS April 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1967 Sheet 2 of 10 INVENTORS MAIZOON I A BQAHAM TQHN J.ABI2AHAM ATTORNEYS April 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Sheet 3 of 10 Filed March 6. 1967 m m I 1. mi? mm E o W m M m L H A m i A H. R A 121 m b R A. PNT m flw nm mli A 5 w in e f i J QM; by O J mi O N M R H Y 8 @m u A Q B Q M3 m mw mm .|.l| EJNJI. m T 1 h \J? Hum: i 5 I l i. va A n P I I -i 0 III [OAK L w -11.. Ww L w hnni llll H L A m 0 April 1969 .1. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Sheet Filed March 6, 1967 April 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Sheet Filed March 6, 1967 l A A J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

April 8, 1969 PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Sheet Filed March 6, 1967 April 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1967 Sheet 7 of 10 April 8, 1969 J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL 3,436,997

PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed March a, 1967 Sheet 9 of 10 j u w 2 INVENTORS Mmzaow $.ABEZAHAM JOHN E. ABRAHAM ATTORNEY S INVENTORS aunmze :N 31 oew Sheet J. J. ABRAHAM ETAL PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS PLO Mun m i April 8, 1969 Filed Hatch 6, 1967 mQ vm d) m w -lll ATTORNEY8 3,436,997 PAPER DISPENSING APPARATUS John J. Abraham, Irvington, NJ. (220 Parker Road, Elizabeth, NJ. 07208), and Maroon I. Abraham, 403 Chapman St., Irvington, NJ. 07111 Filed Mar. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 620,851 Int. Cl. B26d /24, 5/10, 5/30 US. Cl. 83205 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to paper dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for dispensing paper automatically in cut sheets from a supply roll.

There are many fields in which paper in various more or less standard size sheets is used. Normally, the paper is supplied in rolls. For example, paper for making blueprints can be purchased in quantity in rolls 34 inches wide and 100 yards in length. Sheets of desired size are cut from the roll as needed or can be purchased in the desired cut sheet sizes, but the operation of measuring and cutting is time-consuming and frequently there is waste. Usually, the paper is used in more or less standard sheet sizes which include 8 X 11 inch sheets, 11 X 17 inch sheets, 17 X 22 inch sheets, 22 X 34 inch sheets and 34 X 44 inch sheets. At times, it is desirable to use the full width of the 34inch paper and have the sheets of random length beyond 44 inches.

Summary of the invention The general object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which will automatically dispense paper sheets cut from a supply roll.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for dispensing paper in selected predetermined lengths, widths and quantities, or in random lengths of a predetermined width in response to operation of chosen selector buttons.

Another object is to provide apparatus of this kind in which the paper is dispensed in lengths equal to multiples of a predetermined minimum length.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a paper dispenser having a plurality of selector buttons, each of which when pressed activates certain operation which will cause the apparatus to feed, cut and deliver one, or more, sheets of paper of predetermined length and width, and having one button which will cause delivery of one sheet of the width of the roll but of random length, determined by the length of time the button is held depressed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide paper dispensing apparatus which will automatically dispense sheets of desired size and has means to prevent actuation of a second control system while one system is in operation.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one practical embodi- 3,435,997 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 merit thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawrngs which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a paper dispensing apparatus incorporating the principles of the present rnventlon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevation, with parts broken away, of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged end view of the apparatus, parts of the casing being broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a still further enlarged vertical crosssection of the upper portion of the apparatus, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3, the central portions of the paper feed rollers being broken away to show the underlying guillotine structure;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the paper delivery guide operating mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3, showing the longitudinal paper cutters and a part of the operating mechanism of another of the paper delivery guides;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line S8 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the drive mechanism and memory drum;

FIGURE 9 is a partial vertical section, taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, showing the clutch shaft and certain switches operated by a cam on that shaft;

FIGURE 10 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 1il10 of FIGURE 8, illustrating the clutch shaft and its rotation control means;

FIGURE 11 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the memory drum and associated mechanism; and

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical control system for the apparatus.

Description of the preferred embodiment In general, the invention contemplates the provision of a cabinet in which a roll of paper can be mounted, and advanced by feed rolls for severing by a guillotine in selected lengths. The housing contains movable paper guides for delivering cut sheets of full roll width, or for directing the paper through one, or more longitudinal slitting positions for dividing the paper into two, or more, lengthwise extending strips. The delivery of sheets of selected size is controlled by electrical means made operative by the pressing of selected buttons on a control panel.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the dispenser includes a cabinet 1, having a bottom panel 2, top panel 3, front panel 4, back panel 5, and end panels 6. Various panels are mounted upon a frame 7, which is formed of angle iron, and has a base 8, vertical corner supports 9 and a top frame 10. The various operating mechanisms are mounted upon the frame, or upon mounting plates (to be described) which are in turn supported upon the frame.

The forward portion of top panel 3 of the cabinet forms an access door 11, hinged along its rear edge at 12 to the top panel. The door may be swung upwardly to provide an opening through which rolls of paper .13 can be inserted in the cabinet. The paper rolls have an opening 14 through the center to receive a spindle 15. The spindle is of greater length than the paper roll, and its projecting ends fit in upwardly opening slots 16 in end mounting brackets 17, which are secured to horizontal, intermediate frame members 1$ extending between the vertical legs 9 of the frame. The spindle ends ride freely in the slots, and the spindle is of considerably smaller diameter than the opening 14 through the paper roll so that the roll is free to rotate.

After the roll is in place in the cabinet, the end of the paper sheet is fed from the top of the roll rearwardly of the cabinet into the open mouth of a paper guide 19. The guide may be any appropriate type to support the paper and lead it from the roll to the nip of a pair of feed rolls and 21. This involves turning the paper from its horizontal path from the paper roll to a downwardly directed path between the feed rolls. The paper guide, therefore, has a horizontal section 22 which blends into an arcuate section 23. As the horizontal section is free of the feed rolls, its lower surface may be a continuous platform from side to side, as shown at 24. The arcuate section 23, however, must guide the paper While permitting the paper to be in contact with the feed roll 21. For this reason, the arcuate section has only small, channel-shaped edge guides located beyond the ends of the feed rolls. This will maintain guiding engagement with the paper edges to lead the paper to the feed rolls, yet leave the major portion of the sheet free for frictional engagement with the feed rolls.

Feed roll 20 has trunnions 25 at its ends which are mounted in bearings 26, secured to mounting plates 27, attached to the framefRoll 20 is a driven roll, and carries a sprocket 28, mounted on one trunnion 25. A chain 29 is trained over the sprocket 28, around idlers 30 and 31, and about a sprocket 32 on a clutch shaft 33, mounted at the back of the cabinet. A clutch shaft is mounted in bearings 34 fixed to the base frame 7. Clutch shaft 33 is driven by means of a clutch 35 having one member 36 fixed to the clutch shaft 33, and another member 37 which carries a sprocket 38. A chain 39 passes around sprocket 38 and a sprocket 49 on an outboard shaft 41, mounted on a bearing 42 and connected by a coupling 43 to the shaft of a motor 44. As will be explained more fully, when the motor is operating the member 37 of the clutch 35 will rotate continuously. The member 36 of the clutch, which is fixed to the clutch shaft, will be mechanically held against rotation except at certain periods. Therefore, the feed roll 20 will be rotated only when the clutch member 36 is released.

Feed roll 21 is driven only by contact with the paper sheet sandwiched between the two feed rollers. Roll 21 also has trunnion ends 45 mounted in bearings 46. These bearings are fixed to sliding blocks 47. The blocks have horizontally extending slots 48, and shoulder screws 49, mounted on the plates 27 extend into the slots to provide rolling support for the blocks. This arrangement will allow the blocks, and the feed roll 21 to have limited horizontal movement. The roll is normally held in pressure engagement with the paper sheet passing between the two feed rolls by means of coil springs 56 which are interposed between the blocks and brackets 51 fixed to the frame. In order to allow for separation of the feed rolls to thread the edge of a sheet from a fresh paper roll, sliding blocks 47 are connected by cables 52 with a foot operated bar 53. In extending from the sliding blocks to the foot bar the cables pass around pulleys 54 to permit a direction change. There is an opening. 55 at the lower front of the cabinet in the vicinity of the foot bar 53 through which the operator may extend his toe to depress the bar. When the bar is depressed, the sliding blocks 47 are moved forwardly against the pressure of springs to provide a slide gap between roll 21 and roll 20. After the paper edge has been threaded between the rolls, the foot bar will be released and the springs 50 will move the sliding blocks rearwardly to bring the feed roll 21 into pressure contact with the paper sheet and thereby hold the sheet tightly against the surface of the driving feed roll 20. The connection between the cables and the foot bar may be any suitable one, such as the arrangement shown wherein the cables are connected to a hori- ,4 zontal rod 56. Vertical guide rods 57 are connected to the rod 56 and the foot bar 53, and have a sliding mount in the base frame.

After the paper is threaded between the feed rolls, it is in engagement with edge guides 58 which lead the paper between the shearing blades of the guillotine 59. The guillotine has a fixed blade 60 and a movable blade 61. The fixed blade is mounted upon an angle member 62, forming a part of the intermediate frame. It has its sharpened edge positioned at the plane of the paper path. The movable blade 61 is mounted upon a horizontally movable carriage 63. The carriage is in the form of a rectangular frame, and its side members 64 carry rollers 66 which ride in horizontally extending recesses formed in the mounting plates. This provides for limited rolling movement of the carriage in a horizontal plane. The movable blade 61 is mounted on the front bar 67 of the carriage, and has its cutting edge inclined horizontally relative to the paper path and the cutting edge of the fixed blade. The blade is also tilted vertically from one end to the other with the high end being yieldably held in elevated position by means of a spring 68. The vertical inclination of the movable blade, and the fact that it is yieldably held in this position insures shearing contact throughout the length of the cut as the cut progresses from one side of the sheet to the other. The blade carriage is held in its retracted position by means of coil springs 69, which have their ends attached to the car riage and to the cabinet frame. The shear blade carriage is moved forwardly for shearing action by means of a pair of solenoids 70 attached to an angle member 71 located above the blade carriage. Each solenoid has its armature connected by a pin 72 to a cross support 73 on the blade carriage 63. When the solenoids are activated, the movable blade will be carried forward into shearing engagement with the fixed blade 60. When the solenoids are deenergizecl, springs 69 will return the carriage and the blade to inoperative position. Suitable bumpers 74 are mounted at the back of the cabinet to absorb the impact of the carriage return.

When the paper edge is fed between the blades of the guillotine, it can be guided either vertically downward to pass between longitudinally slitting cutters, or it can be diverted into a delivery chute for discharge through a delivery opening 75 in the front of the cabinet. If the paper moves vertically downward, it enters a paper guide 76, but if the paper is to be delivered without longitudinal slitting, it enters a delivery chute 77. Paper guide 76 and the bottom wall of delivery chute 77 are formed as a unit and may be shifted horizontally so as to bring either the mouth of the paper guide or the bottom wall of the delivery chute into proper position to guide the advancing paper edge. To this end, the paper guide and delivery chute wall are mounted upon a carriage 78. The carriage consists of a pair of angle members 79 extending in parallel, spaced relation transversely of the cabinet. The angle members are joined at their ends by wheeled end plates 80, which carry rollers, or wheels, 81 mounted in guide grooves 82 of mounting track members 83 supported on the mounting plates. The angle members 79 of the carriage are spaced apart a sufiicient distance to carry the spaced vertical walls 84 of the paper guide 76. These walls diverge at their tops to provide an enlarged entry mouth 85 for the paper edge. The upper edge of the forward Wall 84 is bent downwardly, and curves downwardly and forwardly to form the bottom wall 86 of the delivery chute 77. The upper wall 87 of the chute extends from the angle member 62 supporting the fixed plate 60 of the guillotine to the front panel 4 of the cabinet at the top of the delivery opening 75. This member also forms the' bottom wall of the compartment receiving the paper roll. The carriage 78 is connected by means of a link 88 to the armature of a solenoid 89, fixed to the cabinet frame. The carriage 78 is normally held in position with the paper guide 76 in direct vertical alignment with the edge guides 58 by means of coil springs 90 connected to the end plates 80 of the carriage and to suitable parts of the cabinet frame. Activation of solenoid 89 will draw the carriage rearwardly to move paper guide 76 out of alignment with the paper guides 53 and bring the bottom wall 86 of the delivery chute 77 in position to guide the edge of the paper advancing from the guillotine into the delivery chute. The control system for bringing the solenoid into operation will be described later.

If the advancing paper enters the paper guide 76, it will be advanced vertically downward between a pair of rotary cutters 91 and 92, mounted on shafts 93 and 94 journaled in bearings 95 supported on the end mounting plates of the frame. Cutter 91 is fixed to the shaft 93 so as to rotate with it. A rubber coated feed roller 96 is also fixed to shaft 93, and is positioned on the shaft so that it will be slightly spaced from the cutting edge of the cutter 91 and in surface contact with the periphery of the rotary cutter 92 on shaft 94. The cutting edge 97 of the cutter 91 is located at the center of the paper sheet as it advances through the cabinet and the cutting edge 98 of the rotary cutter 92 is in shearing contact with it, so that a paper sheet advancing between the rotary cutters will be cut longitudinally into two strips of equal width. The cutter 92 is free on its shaft 94, and is held in shearing relation with respect to the cutter 91 by means of a coil spring 99, which encircles shaft 94 and is in abutment with rotary cutter 92 and a collar 100 fixed to the shaft 94. Cutter 92 is rotated with shaft 94 by means of a crank 101, which is fixed to shaft 94 and has a drive pin 102 which enters an opening 103 in the cutter 92.

Directly below the cutter shafts 93 and 94, there is another pair of shafts 104 and 105, carrying rotary cutters 106 and 107 and S and 109, respectively. The cutters 106 and 107 are identical to cutter 91 and are fixed to shaft 104. The cutters 103 and 109 are similar to cutter 92 and are freely mounted on shaft 105. Cutters 100 and 109 are biased toward cutters 106 and 107 by means of springs 110 and 111, and the. cutters are driven by means of cranks 112 and 113 fixed to shaft 105. The cutters on shafts 104 and 105 are located halfway between the center of the advancing sheet and the side edges of the sheet. Thus, if the paper sheet advances between the cutters 106, 107, 108 and 109, it will be further divided so that four strips of equal width will be provided.

The cutter shafts 93, 94, 104 and 105 are driven continuously, and carry, respectively, sprockets 114, 115, 116 and 117. A chain 118 is trained in serpentine fashion about these sprockets so as to provide the proper direction of rotation, and also about an idler 119 and a sprocket 120 on the outboard shaft 41 of the motor drive. A chain tightener 121 may be employed if required. Thus, whenever the motor 44 is in operation all of the. rotary cutters will be in motion.

If paper sheets of half-width are desired, the paper guide 76 is left in alignment with the upper guide 50 and the. paper will advance through guide 76 to the rotary cutters 91 and 92. The paper must be diverted, however, after being cut so that it will not enter between the lower cutters. In order to accomplish this, a diverter 122 is located beneath the exit end of the guide 76. The diverter is movable from a position removed from the paper path to a position below the exit end of feed guide 76 so as to divert the cut strips emerging from the lower end of the paper guide into a delivery chute 123. Chute 123 opens to the delivery opening 75 at the front of the cabinet. The diverter is in the form of a bar having an inclined front face 124. The bar is mounted on a frame 125 which has end plates 126, the end plates carrying rollers 127 which ride in tracks 128 fixed to the cabinet frame. A solenoid 129 is mounted on a bracket 130 fixed to the frame, and has its armature connected to the frame 125 of the diverter. When the solenoid 129 is energized, the diverter bar will be moved forwardly to a position underlying the outlet end of paper guide 76 so that paper sheets will be fed out through the delivery chute 123 for removal through the opening 75. When the solenoid is deenergized springs 131 connected to the diverter frame and the cabinet frame will draw the diverter back out of the plane of the paper feed 76 so that paper sheets are free to proceed downwardly.

When the diverter 122 is in its retracted position, sheets cut by the rotary cutters 91 and 92 will proceed downward from the delivery end of paper guide 76 into the upper end of a paper guide 132. This guide carries the divided sheet between the lower cutters 106, 107, 108 and 109 which further divide the sheet into four equal sections. The guide 132 is in permanent communication with a bottom delivery chute. 133 so that sheets which have been cut by the upper and lower rollers will pass into the delivery chute 133 for removal through the front opening 75.

It was mentioned above that the clutch shaft 33 is at times held against rotation and at other times free to rotate. This operation is obtained by mounting a stop pin 134 on the clutch member 36 which is fixed to the clutch shaft 33, and having an abutment 135 slidable into and out of the path of movement of the pin 134. The abutment is mounted for sliding movement in a bearing housing 136 which is mounted upon a platform 137 supported on the base frame of the cabinet. The abutment is normally held in pin stopping position by means of a spring 138 connected between the abutment and the bearing housing. The abutment is drawn out of pin-engaging position by means of a solenoid 139, also mounted on the platform 137, which has its armature connected to the abutment. When the solenoid is energized, the abutment will be withdrawn from engagement with the stop pin 134 and the clutch member 36 and the clutch shaft 33 will be free to rotate. When the solenoid is deenergized, spring 138 will draw the abutment back into position to be struck by the stop pin, and the shaft rotation will cease as soon as the pin rotates into contact with the abutment.

Clutch shaft 33 is also used to operate two of the switches which are used in the control circuits. The switches are a pulse switch 140, which controls action of the guillotine, and a switch 141 which controls action of a circuit resetting relay to be described. Switches 140 and 141 are mounted on a slide 142, mounted in guides 143 on a platform 144. The slide is connected to a solenoid 145, also mounted on the platform. When the solenoid is energized, the slide will be drawn forwardly of the cabinet moving the switches 140 and 141 with it. The return movement of the slide is under the influence of spring 146. A bumper 147 is provided to limit the rearward movement of the slide to position the switch actuating elements in the path of a cam 148 mounted on the clutch shaft 33. When the slide is in its retracted position, the switch operating members will be directly in the path of an arm 149 projecting from the earn 148. The arm will strike switches and operate them.

The cam shaft is also used to operate a memory wheel 150, which is mounted on a shaft 151 supported in bearings 152. Shaft 151 carries a gear 153 which is in mesh with a gear 154 on the clutch shaft 33. The ratio of the gears is such that the memory wheel will be given one quarter revolution for each full revolution of the clutch shaft. The memory wheel carries four striker arms 155 located at the four quadrant points of the wheel. These arms will strike, and operate seven switches 156, 157, 158, 159, 156a, 157a and 156b, positioned on supporting arms adjacent the memory wheel. The manner in which these switches operate will be described in connection with the disclosure of the control circuits.

The operation of the device is controlled from a control box 160, mounted on the top of the cabinet at one side, by means of six switch operating buttons 161, 162, 163, 164, and 166. When button 161 is depressed, the device will operate its feed, cut-off and deliver one sheet, the full width of the paper roll and of a length equal to four times the circumference of the feed rolls 20 and 21. If the feed roll circumference is 11 inches and the paper roll is 34 inches Wide, the sheet delivered will be 34 X 44 inches. In the following description, the same dimensions for the paper roll and feed rolls will be assumed. If button 162 is pressed, one sheet 22 x 34 inches will be delivered. Pressing button 163 will cause the paper sheet to pass through the upper rotary cutters 91 and 92, and two sheets 17 x 22 inches will be obtained Operation of button 164 also causes the paper to pass between rotary cutters 91 and 92 and two sheets 11 X 17 inches are delivered. When button 165 is depressed, the sheet passes between rotary cutters 91 and 92 and also rotary cutters 106, 107, 108 and 109, and four sheets 8 /2 x 11 inches will be obtained. Operation of button 166 is somewhat dilferent than the others in that the button is depressed and held for whatever time is necessary to feed the desired random length of paper from the machine. When the button is released, a length in multiples of 11 inches and having the full width of the roll will be delivered.

Operation of the buttons on the control box serves to close selected circuits which automatically set into operation the various mechanisms of the machine to deliver sheets in the selected size. All of the circuits of the machine are arranged across a power supply line 167 and a return line 168 (see FIG. 12). The circuit from the power supply is closed by means of a main switch 169. When the main switch is closed, a circuit is completed from the supply line 167 to the motor 44 by means of a line 170 which bridges the lines 167 and 168. This will start the motor, and rotation of the motor outboard shaft 41 will begin. The several rotary cutters will be put into operation, and the member 37 of the clutch 35 will begin to rotate. The clutch shaft, however, will be stationary due to the fact that its stop pin 134 is in contact with the abutment 135. The machine is now ready to deliver paper.

If the operator desires one sheet 34 X 44 inches in size, he will press the button 161 to close its switch. Closing switch 161 completes a circuit from the power line 167 through line 171, switch 161, normally closed relay contacts 172, memory selector switch 159, and the coil of a relay 174 to the return line 168. This energizes relay 174 and closes the relay contacts 175 in a line 176 bridging the switch 161 and contacts 172 to establish a holding circuit for the relay. At the same time, the contacts 177 in a line 178, between lines 171 and 179 are closed to energize line 179. This supplies power through lines 171 and 178 to line 1'79, through memory selector switch 158 and the coil of a relay 181 to the return line 168. A third set of contacts 182 of relay 174 are located in the line 183 from the power line 167, and when these contacts close, the clutch shaft abutment solenoid 139, which is in line 183, will be energized to draw the abutment out of the path of the clutch stop pin and allow the clutch shaft to rotate. Contacts 184 of the relay 174 also close, which completes a circuit through line 185 to energize solenoid 145 to move slide 142 and withdraw switches 140 and 141 from the cam arm 149. It was mentioned above that when relay 174 was energized, its contacts 177 close to energize relay 181. When relay 181 is energized, its contacts 186 close establishing a circuit to the relay directly from power line 167 through line 187. At the same time, contacts 188 of relay 181 close to establish a circuit from line 179 through line 189 to line 190. This completes a circuit through line 190, normally closed memory selector switch 157, and the coil of a relay 192. Energizing relay 181 also closed its contacts 193 in parallel circuit with the contacts 182 of relay 174 in the line of the clutch shaft abutment solenoid 139. The contacts 194 of the relay 181 also close to establish a parallel circuit for the switch slide solenoid 145. When relay 192 is energized it closes a number of contacts. Contacts 195 complete a circuit through the relay 192 from line 167 through line 196, 197, contacts 195, line 190, selector switch 157 and relay 192 to the return line 168. Contacts 198 also close to complete a circuit from line 196 through line 199, contacts 198, line 200, selector switch 156 and the coil of relay 202 to return line 168. This completes the sequential closing of the relay cascade including the relays 174, 181, 192 and 202. Relay 192 also has contacts 203 in a parallel circuit through solenoid coil 139, and contacts 204 in a parallel circuit through solenoid 145. The energizing of relay 202 closes its contacts 205 to complete the circuit from the power line through line 200 and the relay coil. Relay 202 also closes contacts 206 in a parallel circuit to solenoid 139, and contacts 207 in a parallel circuit to solenoid 145. In addition to the above, relays 192 and 202 also have contacts 208 and 209, respectively, in a line connecting solenoid 89, which operates the paper guide 76 and delivery chute 77, to the power line 167 and the return line 168.

All of the above described circuits are made operative, and the relays 174, 181, 192 and 202 are energized when the switch button 161 is depressed. The several relays are energized in sequence, with each relay, except the relay 202, upon energization closing a circuit to the next succeeding relay in the cascading series. Each of the relays have contacts in the circuit through the clutch shaft abutment solenoid 139, and each have contacts in the circuit to the switch slide solenoid 145. Thus, as soon as the first relay is energized the abutment will be withdrawn from the stop to permit the clutch shaft to begin rotating. At the same time, the switches 140 and 141 are released and allowed to close. The closing of switch 140 completes a circuit from power line 168 through wire 210, switch 140, the guillotine blade shearing solenoids and return line 168. This will cause the switch to reset and prepare the switch for another time delay pulse switching. The closing of switch 141 energizes relay coil 211, in series with the switch in line 212 bridging the power lines, causing relay 211 to open its normally closed contacts 172 in line 121, 213 in line 196, 214 in a line 215, 216 in a line 217, 218 in a line 219, and 220 in a line 221. These contacts are normally closed so that circuits to the relays can be established by operation of the control buttons, and when opened will prevent the energization of any circuit except the selected one during the operation of the machine in dispensing the chosen sheets. When solenoid 139 is energized and the abutment is withdrawn from the clutch shaft stop, the clutch shaft begins to rotate and the feed rollers 20 and 21 begin to rotate to advance paper between them. At the same time, the memory Wheel 15% will begin to rotate.

It was pointed out above that the gearing between the clutch shaft and the memory wheel is such that the memory wheel will rotate one quarter turn for each full rotation of the clutch shaft. The position of the selector switches relative to the memory wheel is such that all of the switches will be contacted and operated each quarter revolution of the memory wheel.

With the switch button 161 depressed, and the circuits energized as set out above, the memory wheel will begin its operation. If the memory wheel is in the position shown in FIGURE 11, the memory wheel striker arm a will begin to move in the direction of the arrow toward switches 156 and 157. At the same time, striker arm 1555; will begin to move toward switches 158 and 159. Due to the positioning of the switches, striker arm 155a will reach and operate the switches 156 and 157 in sequence prior to the time the striker arm 155b reaches and operates the switches 158 and 159 in sequence. At the end of one revolution, the striker arlm 155a will occupy the position shown of striker 155b, and striker 1551: will be in the position shown for 1550. When striker arm 155a contacts the operating arm of switch 156, it will open the switch and deenergize relay 202. As the striker arm leaves the switch the switch will reclose and, due to the fact that relay 192 is still energized and its contacts 198 are closed, relay 202 will be reenergized. The striker arm will then contact and open switch 157, breaking the circuit to relay 192. As relay 181 is still energized, relay 192 will be reenergized as soon as the switch 157 recloses. As switch 157 recloses striker arm 1551) will open switch 158 breaking the circuit to relay 181. As relay 174 is still energized, relay 181 will reenergize as soon as switch 158 recloses. The striker arm then opens switch 159 and breaks the circuit to relay 174. As there is no means for reclosing this circuit, button switch 161 and relay contacts 172 and 175 being open, this relay remains deenergized. As the relays 181, 192 and 202 are still energized, 'the clutch abutment solenoid 139 and the switch slide solenoid 145 will remain energized and the clutch shaft will continue to operate. During the second quarter revolution of the memory wheel, the next striker arm will open the various switches as occurred in the first quarter revolution. Relays 192 and 202 will be reenergized, but relay 181 will have no means for reclosing its circuit and it will be inactive. On the third quarter revolution, relay 192 becomes inactive, and on the fourth quarter revolution relay 202 is deenergized. When this occurs, the solenoids 139 and 145 will be deenergized permitting the abutment to move into position to stop the clutch shaft at the end of its revolution, and the switch slide will move into position so that the switch 140 will close and switch 141 will open. When switch 140 closes, the guillotine solenoids 70 are energized and draw the movable shear blade 61 forwardly to cut the paper. Switch 140 is a pulse switch and automatically opens to deenergize the guillotine solenoids and allow the springs to return the movable blade to its inactive position. The opening of switch 141 deenergizes relay 211 which permits the normally closed contacts of that relay to assume their closed position, resetting the circuits for operation when another control button is pressed. Solenoid 89 controlling the paper guide 76 and chute 77 will be deener'gized and the structure will move forwardly to again place the paperguide in vertical alignment with the paper path. One sheet of paper 34 x 44 inches in length will have been delivered during this operation.

If it is desired to obtain a sheet which is 22 X 34 inches, it is only necessary for the feed rolls 20 and 21 to make two revolutions. To obtain a sheet of this size, the button 162 is pressed to complete a circuit through line 196, switch 162, closed contacts 213, line 190, selector switch 157 and relay 192. This energizes relay 192, causing its contacts 195 to close and set up a hold ing circuit. At the same time, the relay contacts 198 close completing a circuit to relay 202. The contacts 203 and 206 of the respective relays will be closed, activating the abutment slide relay 139. Contacts 204 and 207 will be closed energizing the switch slide relay 145. As a sheet of full width is to be delivered, contacts 208 and 209 are also energized so that the solenoid 89 of the paper feed and chute assembly will be moved to position chute 77 under the feed rolls. When the clutch shaft is released, the memory drum will begin its operation. In this case the memory drum will make only two quarter revolutions, as it will deactivate the circuit for relay 192 during the first quarter of rotation, and will open the circuit through relay 202 on the second quarter rotation. This will serve to stop the operation of the cam shaft and memory wheel and activate the guillotine to cut off the sheet. The paper guide and chute assembly will return to inactive position.

If two sheets of 17 x 22 inch size are desired, the button 163 is pressed. This completes a circuit through line 215, switch 163, normally closed relay contacts 214, selector switch 157a and relay 222. This will energize the relay 222 causing its contacts 223 to close and set up a holding circuit for the relay, and its contacts 224 in line 225 to close bringing power to line 226 which includes selector switch 156a and relay 227. Thus, relay 227 is also energized. This closes contacts 228 to establish a holding circuit for relay 227. Relays 222 and 227 have contacts 229 and 230, respectively, in parallel circuits with line 231 to the solenoid 129 that activates the diverter below the upper rotary cutters. This will cause the diverter to move into place so that the cut sheets will be delivery chute 123. At the same time, contacts 232 and 233 of these relays close to activate solenoid 139. The relays also have contacts 234 and 235 which close to energize the switch slide solenoid 145. This will energize the system to start operation of the feed rolls to advance the paper sheet through the rotary cutters 91 and 92 and to start rotation of the memory wheel. As the paper is to be 22 inches in length, the memory wheel will make two quarter revolutions, and the switches 156a and 157a will be activated in sequence. These switches are located directly behind switches 156 and 157. On the first quarter rotation of the wheel relay 222 will be deactivated and on the second rotation of the wheel relay 227 will be deenergized. The mechanism will then operate to stop rotation of the clutch shaft and to cut and deliver two paper sheets.

If two 11 x 17 sheets are desired, the switch 164 is depressed. This is in circuit with the relay 227 and activates that relay. The operation i the same as that described before, except that the single energized relay will be deenergized on the first quarter revolution of the memory wheel and the paper will be advanced but 11 inches.

If four 8% x 11 sheets are desired, the button 165 is pressed. This completes a circuit through line 219, switch 165, normally closed relay contacts 218, selector switch 156k and relay 236. When relay 236 is energized, it closes contacts 237 to set up a holding circuit for the relay, contacts 238 to energize abutment solenoid 139 and contacts 239 to activate switch slide solenoid 145. As the paper is to travel to the lowermost discharge chute, it is not necessary to activate the discharge chute solenoid 89 or the diverter solenoid 129. The feed rolls will make but one revolution during this operation, but the paper will feed downwardly between the rotary cutters 91 and 92, to be cut in half, and then between the rotary cutters 106, 107, 108 and 109 to cut each half in the middle. This will produce four sheets 8 /2 x 11 inches in size.

There are times when it is desired to obtain a sheet of paper of the full width of the roll and of random length. This can be obtained by pressing button 166, but the length will be in multiples of 11 inches. This is due to the fact that the clutch shaft can be stopped at only one position and the feed rollers will be stopped only at the end of a complete revolution. When button 166 is depressed, it closes its switch completing a circuit through line 221, normally closed relay contacts 220 and a relay 240. When the relay 240 is energized it closes its contacts 241, to complete an auxiliary circuit to the relay so that contacts 220 can be opened. It will be seen that this circuit remains closed only as long as button switch 166 is held closed. Relay 240 has contacts 242 in the circuit to the abutment solenoid 139, and contacts 243 in the circuit of switch slide solenoid 145. A fourth set of relay contacts 244 are in the circuit to solenoid 89 which controls the movement of the upper discharge chute 77. When these circuits have been completed, the clutch shaft will begin to rotate as will the feed rolls 20 and 21. This operation will continue as long as button 166 is held depressed, for the memory wheel plays no part in this particular operation. Although the memory wheel will open and close the several selector switches each quarter revolution, these switches are not in the random length circuit and will not effect the operation. When the desired length of paper has been fed from 11 the roll, the button 166 is released which breaks the circuit to relay 240, the relay contacts open, breaking the circuit to the clutch abutment solenoid, the switch slide solenoid and the solenoid controlling the discharge chute position. The knife will then act to cut the sheet and the sheet will be discharged from the cabinet.

The operation of the machine in response to operation of each of the six control buttons has been described. This covers the normal operation of the machine. However, when the paper supply has been exhausted and it is necessary to install a fresh roll, a special procedure is required.

When a roll of paper is to be installed in the machine, the main switch 169 is opened so that the machine is inactive. The access door 11 at the top of the cabinet is opened and the paper spindle 15 is lifted out of the slots 16 in the mounting brackets 17. The spindle is inserted through the center of a fresh paper roll, and then the roll is placed in the paper compartment with the ends of the spindle moving downwardly in slots 16 until they seat against the bottom. The edge of the paper is then drawn forwardly and inserted into the paper guide 19 for movement toward, and between, the feed rolls 20 and 21. The operator will insert his toe through the opening 55 in the front of the cabinet and engage, and press downwardly, the foot bar 53. This will cause the movable feed roll 21 to slide forward horizontally to separate it from the stationary feed roll 20, so that the paper end can move along the paper guide freely between the feed rollers, down and between the separated blades of the guillotine. The foot operated bar 53 is released and springs 50 return the feed roll 21 to its original position where it will be in pressure contact with the paper sheet, holding the sheet tightly against the driven roll 20. The operator will then manually rotate the paper roll to remove slack, and then close the access door 11. In most cases, the paper end will now be in the paper guide 76. For this reason, the control button 164, which causes delivery of two 11 x 17 inch sheets, is depressed and the machine will follow its usual operation for the delivery of these sheets. However, the paper edge was not at the cutting plane of the guillotine, as would be the case if sheets had been cut previously, and the two sheets which are delivered will be of imperfect length. After this operation has been completed, the paper end has been squared and is in proper position to deliver sheets of precise selected size. The machine can then be operated as described above.

While in the above one practical embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that the details of structure shown and described are merely by way of illustration, and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Paper dispensing apparatus comprising, means to feed paper from the roll, means to cut lengths of paper from the roll after selected lengths have been fed past the cutting means, means to longitudinally slit the paper positioned beyond the means to cut the paper from the roll in the direction of paper travel, and means selectively operable to direct the paper into the means to longitudinally slit the paper and to divert the paper from entry into the means to longitudinally slit the paper.

2. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the means to longitudinally slit the paper is separated into means to divide the paper centrally, and means spaced in the direction of paper travel beyond the means to divide the paper centrally to further slit the paper longitudinally, and means intermediate the separated slitting means selectively operable to divert the paper from passage through the means to further divide the paper.

3. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the means to feed the paper is operable to advance the paper in preselected length increments and there are means operable to select length increments of paper advance.

4. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the means to feed the paper is operable to advance the paper in preselected length increments and there are means operable to select length increments of paper advance.

5. Paper dispensing apparatus comprising, a cabinet, means to support a roll of paper in the cabinet, rolls to feed paper from a roll, shear blades beyond the paper feed rolls in the direction of paper movement between which the paper is fed, rotary cutting means positioned beyond the shear blades in the direction of paper movement to slit the paper longitudinally, means intermediate the shear blades and the rotary cutting means movable to position to divert paper from entry to the rotary cutting means and to guide paper to the rotary cutting means, means to drive the paper feed rolls and the rotary cutting means, means to operate the shear blades, means to move the paper diverter and guide, means to stop the paper feed roll drive means after a single revolution of the feed rolls, means to withdraw the paper feed roll stop means, and control means to selectively operate the means to withdraw the feed roll stop means and hold it out of feed roll stopping position for predetermined numbers of revolution of the feed rolls and to release the feed roll stop means and activate the means to operate the shear blades to sever predetermined lengths of paper from the paper roll.

6. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the control means selectively operates the means to position the paper diverter and guide.

7. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the rotary cutting means is in two sections, one section including rotary cutters arranged to slit the paper centrally, and the other section being spaced from the central paper cutters in the direction of paper travel and including rotary cutters to further divide the centrally slit sheet.

8. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein, there is a second paper diverter intermediate the two sections of the rotary cutting means, means to move the second paper diverter, and the control means selectively activates the means to move the second paper diverter.

9. Paper dispensing apparatus, comprising, a cabinet, means to support a roll of paper in the cabinet, rolls to feed paper from a roll, shear =blades beyond the paper feed rolls in the direction of paper movement between which the paper is fed, first rotary cutters spaced beyond the shear blades in the direction of paper movement to longitudinally slit the paper centrally into two sections, second rotary cutters spaced beyond the first rotary cutters in the direction of paper movement to longitudinally slit each of the two paper sections into two equal sections, first movable means intermediate the shear blades and the first rotary cutters to divert full width paper sheets from the first rotary cutters, second movable means intermediate the first and second rotary cutters to divert paper from the second rotary cutters, and means to selectively control the operation of the feed rolls to feed selected length of paper from the roll, the shear blades to cut the paper from the roll after the selected predetermined length has advanced beyond the shear blades, and respective means todivert the advancing paper from the respective rotary cutters to obtain paper sheets of selected length and Width.

10. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein, the means to selectively control the feed rolls includes means to drive the rolls, means to stop rotation of the feed rolls at the completion of one revolution of the feed rolls, and means to withdraw the feed roll stopping means and hold it withdrawn to permit the feed rolls to revolve selected numbers of times.

11. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein, the means to control the shear blades includes means to bias the blades to separated position, and means to close the blades when preselected lengths of paper have passed between the blades.

12. Paper dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein, the means to control the first and second diverter means includes means to bias each diverter means toward a position out of the path of paper travel, and separate means to move the respective diverters into the path of paper travel to prevent entry of the paper into one or 10 both diverter means.

14 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,041 2/1957 Merritt et a1 83-408 XR 3,285,113 11/1966 Bertoglio 83255 LEONIDAS VLACHOS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

